"A fool learns from his experience. A wise person learns from the experience of others." (Otto von Bismarck, German Chancellor, 1815 - 1898)

"A good rule before one goes marching or signing anything: Whatever your tug of sympathy, you have no right to a public opinion unless you've been there, experienced firsthand and on the ground and for some considerable time the country, war, injustice, whatever, you are talking about. In the absence of such firsthand knowledge and experience: silence." (Susan Sontag, from Answers to a Questionnaire, 1997)

"Do something for the joy of doing it and pray you won't be punished." (Sammy Cahn)

"Do you know that places only yield up their secrets, their most profound mysteries, to those who are just passing through?" (Salman Rushdie, The Moor's Last Sigh)

"Experience is a good teacher, but she sends in terrific bills." (Minna Antrim)

"Experience is not what happens to a man. It is what a man does with what happens to him." (Aldous Huxley)